“Grandpa and the Truck” went to Walter E. Ranger and Ft. Barton schools May 13, 2015.

Named to Atlas Van Lines’s “Elite Fleet” (of drivers,) “Gator” drove millions of miles, flawlessly, across America in the big rig.
Now, he tells his exciting adventures to student audiences, focusing on the men and women who drive these big metal beasts….their challenges…natures’ role (hurricanes, fog, ice) and the beauty and diversity of our great land.
“Grandpa and the Truck’s” trucker and 30-year retired teacher, Providence Journal Op-Ed writer, Colleen Kelly Mellor (trucker’s wife and author) bring their lively show to Tiverton little ones and their audience was spectacular.

Principal Manuel Cabral of Walter Ranger Elementary said:

“The students were super-attentive and involved….kept on track and involved for the entire time and for that to happen in a space of 30 minutes with kindergarten,1st and 2nd grade students is a real testament to the program… I was really impressed with the presentation.”

Got kids in a class that like to rap? Video their efforts (with dramatic flourishes, as explained below) and maybe they’ll appear on the www.grandpaandthetruck.com website (with parental permission, of course.) What else might the winning Rhode Island class rappers get? A visit from none other than the trucker and his teacher/writer wife…We’ll bring the big rigs to you, along with his exciting stories and sound effects.

Three little kids (2 boys…one girl), with crazy hats?, colorful sunglasses (on one?), leaning against trees in their backyard, or on a playground, rap to following: They ham it up, putting on “surprise” face (“was surprised”) or make steering motions for line “That he manned the big rigs.” Imagine their other effects, too, as they rap to the following…..

I felt like the stereotypical problem gambler in the vise-like grip of creditors (predators,) owing way more interest than I’d originally signed on for. How so? Quite simply, I was at the mercy (there is none) of debt collectors, because I hadn’t paid my student loans.

But I wasn’t some casual drifter who ignored responsibilities. I was a mother who paid a caretaker to look after my young child while I worked. I was a single parent, before the era of deadbeat Dads (so I got no court-mandated child support from my former spouse.) I was raising my child, on an income that often didn’t stretch far enough. My older car broke down, often, and I had all the usual bills.

In my world of extreme priorities, I’d let the college loan debt lapse.

But, as I said: I was no ‘casual drifter.’ I was a teacher.

The harassment began in an unnerving way. The school secretary called me on the intra-building phone: “Mrs. Allen (my name then), there’s someone on the phone who says it’s ‘critical’ to speak with you.” I nervously asked: “Is it the police or a hospital?” (I feared someone in my family being in a terrible accident.) The office person simply answered: “They didn’t say, but we’ll send someone up right away to relieve you.”

When I picked up the call, a collection agent informed me I was in arrears on my student loan. He asked me how I was going to ‘right the situation.’

With clerks bustling about and students arriving, getting late slips for class, I was pretty much silenced, in any form of protest. I mumbled I’d try to get ‘it’ (payment) to them. He insisted: “When?” I responded “This week.” He persisted: “OK, I’m noting that we’ve had this conversation and you’re stating you’ll have the payment in, by the end of the week” (it was Monday). I mumbled some kind of assent. I wanted this whole embarrassing conversation over.

I walked back to class, feeling bullied and bruised. It took a while for the anger to percolate, but it finally did, as I considered: The collector got me out of class, on the pretext there was some ‘emergency;’ they put me in the awkward situation of answering (or ‘non-answering’ to be more exact) in front of an office full of people; he got me to say I’d pay by the end of the week (when I hadn’t enough money for food.) I knew, even in my compromised state, that this was wrong.

Later that day I spoke with a lawyer friend who advised: “They can’t call and harass you at your workplace. That’s illegal.” He offered even more: “I’ll tell them to cease and desist.”

In the months ahead, I discovered I needn’t repay the loan at all, for a special proviso operated for teachers like me: I taught in a school with a high concentration of low, socio-economic families (on Welfare, reduced-lunches, etc.)

In effect, 15% of my loan was forgiven each year, ad infinitum. All I had to do was put in the paperwork, attesting to such. Had the collector even mentioned this to me? Absolutely not. They’re trained to get in…harass the borrower (even better, if in public forum)…and get out, with a promise to pay by certain date.

Today, I sympathize with students who have burgeoning school debt. Young debtors today never foresaw what they’d face in life. They thought their salaries would sustain them—not leave them without enough to meet their bills, and many still don’t have jobs. They never knew the predatory practices of bill collectors who’ve been amazingly brazen and free ‘til now. Worse yet, some have operated with approval and backing (contract-wise) of the Dept. of Education.

Today’s Sheila Resseger commentary in the Providence Journal
is a call to arms for parents, educators, and all who care where we’re going regarding Common Core and the PAARC.

It’s not the first time former teacher Resseger’s weighed in, but her war cry’s gaining traction: Teachers’ union NEARI has determined to inform parents that they may, in fact, opt their kids out of these questionable tests, with no adverse consequences.
Yep…They’re all tired. And sick of what they see as flagrant violation of what we should all be about in the education of our youth.
“The problem,” the way they see it? Business and industry running the show, folks who know little about how students learn but who know a whole lot about how to make a profit. And profit they’re making, as stock watchers readily admit: Pearson (the group who determined Common Core standards and now who design the PAARC test) is zinging off the charts, as a company, as seen in the stock’s growth per this graph representation.

In a Nero-fiddling-while-Rome-burns scenario (OK, metaphor could be better,) schools and teachers quake as they see little ones hunched over tests, trying desperately to answer questions that are muddied and incomprehensible.

Parents and all those in the educational need to end this madness and return our schools to what they should be about–educating our youth.

Not providing the next best return on a Stock Market investment.

__________________________

A tangential problem however: What to do with the kids who’ve opted out of the significant amount of time ear-marked for the test situation? Do they stare blindly into space or should they be allowed to pursue other activities, quietly? No simple answers here.

You know what teachers’ biggest complaint is? Pseudo teachers telling us how to teach. You know who I mean…the self-appointed, supposed experts…the ones who got out of the classroom…or never got into it…because they were either being eaten alive by the kids or they feared that fate.

Now, they’ve morphed into education’s resident experts who tell us REAL teachers how to do the job.

This real teacher offers an alternative: If you must employ Common Core, why not invite a real teacher and her trucker partner to show how CC’s potential might be realized via every child’s interest in the big rigs. How? We teach life skills, geography, science, weather, and history, through our colorful character–the long-haul trucker who traveled America’s highways for 30 years.

His stories are fascinating and riveting.

First school in Rhode Island test-driving our stories? Fort Barton, in Tiverton, one of America’s select Blue Ribbon Schools for Excellence. Grandpa and the Truck will guest-speak there in mid-May.

This school’s openness to trying this new venture (such as utilizing Grandpa and the Truck books to get across Common Core principles) might be one of the reasons Fort Barton is so special…

We hope others will follow their lead and sign on.

Other news? Grandpa and the Truck will appear as a vendor at the Rhode Island Library Association Conference in Newport, in late May….

P.S. Don’t let the pic fool you of the little guys reading the books: These books aren’t ‘just for boys’…Book 2 features the exciting story of two Rhode Island women who became legends in the the long-haul trucking industry.

Teaching Styles The picture? Yep..it’s of the iconic apple that folks always associate with teachers. So, my question to you: As teacher, are you of the red “Delicious” variety or the slightly-tart, green, of the “Granny Smith” family? I … Continue reading →

I’ve always pretty much gotten notice, for either being one of the tallest women in the room (at 5’9”)….having former “kids” recognize me in super markets or at the Mall, and now, from folks who read my Op-Ed’s in the newspaper.
All have brought forth interesting reactions. When some of my former students comment “You haven’t changed much at all,” I answer: “You mean, I looked 69 when I taught you?” We all laugh.
On the other hand, they’ve changed a great deal from the adolescent youngsters I knew. Now they’re adults, with their own kids.
But my interaction with readers, lately, is what I find so interesting.
Yesterday, husband and I had lunch where we often do, at a local spot where we go to get good soup. It’s a break I afford myself each day, after several hours of writing.
Another “frequent eater” was there, one I’d seen, often, before. We nodded and I shared the fact that this place reminds me of Cheers where ‘everyone knows your name’ (I didn’t know how wrong I’d be.)
As we talked, I asked what she’d done, for a career, and she told me she’d worked in NYC for many years, in the high fashion industry. It made sense: I’d always seen her as attractive and stylish. Apparently, she’d remained single for well into her late 30’s, when she left the business world to marry. I told her I thought that career switch from NYC excitement to Rhode Island wife had to be daunting.
Here’s the fun part: When I proceeded to introduce myself, she said: “Oh, I know who you are…I read your column all the time. You’re a very good writer.”
Then, the punchline. She added: “You’re Sally Mellor.”
Well, I gotta say: I laughed, as I gently corrected the woman: “No, Sally Mellor is a realtor in town. I’m Colleen Kelly Mellor.”…But I can see how you’d make that mistake, with us both having the same last name.
So, here’s the take-away. I never know how or where I impact, but it’s fun, getting this public reaction.
Of course, if readers don’t like my writing style, I allow them to continue being confused, as to my true identity…

The really exciting news? Our Grandpa and the Truck books are recognized by schools and teachers who say “Grandpa and the Truck” books align with Common Core. As 30 year, successful teacher, I wasn’t really surprised. Many of us always used the principles of Common Core, in teaching; it’s just that now, those principles are codified.

Why’d I write this series (2 books published now, with more to come)? Because no one else had done it. Read that: No one ever wrote a series for kids that tracks the thrilling adventures of a long-haul trucker, as he travels across America.

Why’d this fact gobsmack me? Because trucks are the perfect vehicle to teach kids important information. Anyone who’s ever witnessed trash day in the neighborhood knows that little ones wait excitedly by the windows to catch a glimpse of the garbage truck in action. When the compressor jaws close, they squeal in delight…and those truckers repay the children for their loyalty by honking at them.

Why else did I write this series? Today, children only seem to know our great nation in terms of tech devices–TV and what a GPS device tells them. We aim to change that. We’ll bring them up to different regions of our great land, letting them know the different personalities of the states through which our big rig passes. In addition, they’ll witness major historical events through the eyes of a trucker.

They’ll learn trucker lingo (the words and phrases we can share!)…and important life lessons (like why “it’s not always wise to follow the leader”); they’ll learn of the special bond between a big rig driver and his truck (they pretty them up and name them); they’ll learn of the unique, often-solitary life of the men and women who drive thousands of miles across America in snow, sleet, ice (and even a hurricane), to bring to us the products we use every day.

It’s a story that’s never been told. Our hero is a 30 year, career big rig driver, born in the back woods of Arkansas but transplanted to Rhode Island. He was a career soldier who built bridges, hospitals, and schools, in the United States and later, in other lands, where he led his National Guard unit. Throughout it all, he was the consummate trucker. And because he was named to Atlas Van Lines’s Elite Fleet of drivers (for a spotless driving record, over many years), he makes a perfect model trucker.

So, hop onto the seat along with Grandpa as we tell you his tales of trucking. And if you want a special visit to your classroom, let us know that, too. We’re beginning to test-drive Grandpa and the Truck books to select elementary school audiences…

See what we offer and buy the books for holiday gift-giving, those countless birthday gifts you need presents for (we sign and personalize, so this gift is “special” indeed). We’re at… http://grandpaandthetruck.com/.

**** Want Colleen Kelly Mellor and the trucker to bring the trucker’s experience to your class? Contact her at ckmellor@cox.net.

*****Want her as guest speaker to your group, about writing and seeking publication later in life, sharing those important lifetime experiences?Same email as above.

But, we’d really just love to meet you…We’ll have a trucker display, with the big rigs, and maybe even some sound effects (like an air horn).

Come Saturday to our first appearance at RI Authors’ Expo, West Warwick’s Civic Center (see flyer)…We are the first husband/wife team who produce the Grandpa and the Truck books (for kids 4-9), about husband’s 30-year big rig career, transporting household goods all over America. OOIDA has named us “Cool Gifts for Kids” and Women in Trucking endorses us, too. And now, schools are inviting us in, since we’re the perfect vehicle to teach geography, nature, science, math, and important life lessons and they love the fact we meet Common Core standards. We and our books will be at West Warwick Arena, in RI this Sat. from 10-3, for RIAuthors’ Expo. Truckers get special discount if show us their CDL. Our books make perfect gifts (we sign and personalize for kids) and they let others know the important role truckers play in moving America.http://www.riauthors.org/rhode-island-authors-expo/